Clean Run - September 2015 - 56

Editor's Note: Stacy has created a video to go with this article: http://youtu.be/yIH8jN0AS2Q
If you subscribe to the printed copy of the magazine, the easiest way to view the videos listed in this article
is to go to the Clean Run magazine YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/CleanRun Magazine)
and select the September 2015 play list.

them gently. They are being gentle as
they tug because they are afraid that
if they tug too enthusiastically the
dog won't maintain their grip and will
drop the toy. Although that may seem
logical it is that exact thought that will
likely keep the dog from ever engaging in intense play.
When you play with your dog carefully,
they will be careful right back. They
are not going to play hard when your
energy is weak. Mirroring!
To solve the play problem I'll have
them use a number of tools-tug
technique, toy presentations, chase
drive and intensity drills-but at the
core, the trainer's dynamic energy
and commitment to the game will
have the biggest impact.
Another qualification: I am not saying
that you need to play so aggressively
that you rip your dog's neck off (figuratively speaking). There are techniques
you can use to create great play. You
can look and play dynamically without
being too rough. You want your dog
to absolutely believe that you are truly
invested in the game.
Another example is one you have
probably seen time and time again. A
handler has a dog that needs motivation, but when you see them run in
the ring in practice or at a trial, the
handler runs in a lackadaisical manner.
The handler is jogging rather than putting forth an effort to really run. This
situation is pretty typical. The handler
is running slowly because the dog is
running slowly. Catch 22, correct? Now
the root of the problem is most likely
the fact that the dog needs way more

One very important aspect
of mirroring you need to
remember is that it is
important to believe in
whatever emotional state
you are trying to project
in a given situation.

reinforcement for their behaviors and a
much better understanding of their job,
but if that handler doesn't put any effort into their running, their dog will run
with approximately the same amount
of effort as the handler. Mirroring!
Unless your dog is conditioned to perform intensely through trained drive
work and well-built agility behaviors
or is one of those dogs that is as we
say "spun off their nut," it is extremely
unlikely that the handler will get their
dog to put in any more effort than
they are themselves. Even if they do, it
will be short lived, as the dog will likely
come down to the handler's energy
level over time.
You can try this experiment simply
at home. Set up a line of four jumps
about 18 to 21 feet apart. Lead out
to around the first jump, release your
dog, and jog in a relaxed manner
down the line.
Now set them up again, lead out to
the second jump, rev your dog up in
the stay and get them excited to run.
If they can't do a stay with drive, you
can have someone hold them, but you
would like to get them excited to run.

Feel like you are ready to bust out your
Usain Bolt impression. As soon as you
see that you've built up their excitement level, give them their release cue
and immediately run! When you get to
the end, give your dog a huge jackpot
for being awesome.
If you want to try one more version of
the experiment, keep the excitement
going from your last drill, run back-
rewarding as you go-and set your
dog up on the line again and repeat
what you just did on your last run. Your
dog should be even better.
The big reward coupled with your
excitement level and your running
intensity should begin to make a huge
difference in your dog's enthusiasm.
Make sure you use a reward your dog
really wants. If tugging is more rewarding than food, use your toy. If treats are
more rewarding then use high-value
treats. The more your dog wants that reward, the harder they will work to get it.
As a side note, if your dog breaks their
stay because of their excitement level,
they may not leave the line going very
hard. But you can remedy this by working on your stay with drive and the
great news is, that by doing that, you
will be on the road to improving your
dog's speed on course.
Wrap-Up
As you go to work with your dog in the
future, take a step back and see if you
have been sucked into the mirroring
vortex without being aware of it. If you
have, try adjusting your demeanor to
positively influence your dog's behaviors and see how incredibly effective
the use of mirroring can be. D

Stacy Winkler teaches in Vista, California, as well as across North America and the world online at www.stacywinkler.com. Stacy specializes in drive, connection, play,
rewarding, and distance work. She has had over 14 years of teaching and training experience with a wide variety of breeds. She is passionate about building a strong
foundation for agility and making the work incredibly valuable and fun for the dog as well as the handler. Stacy can be reached at agility3@yahoo.com.
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Clean Run | September 15

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Clean Run - September 2015

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